NEPTUNE CITY — Five people including an 11-year-old boy were attacked by a pit bull inside a Monmouth County apartment on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday's incident was not the first attack by the dog.

Terrence Simmons, 41, of Virginia, had taken ownership of the 100-pound blue pit bull named Enzo from Shealzel Collins, 37, of Neptune Township, on Monday night after the dog had bitten Collins' wife a week ago, according to Monmouth County SPCA executive director Ross Licitra.

Licitra told New Jersey 101.5 that Simmons brought the dog to the home of his sister, Tasha Lee, 43, at the Brighton Arms Apartment off Route 33 in Neptune City and stayed overnight.

Tuesday morning, Lee's 11-year-old son opened the door to the room where Enzo was sleeping. The dog "immediately and viciously" lunged at the boy and bit him in the arm, according to Neptune City Police Director Edward Kirschenbaum. Simmons and Lee also were bitten in the struggle, Kirshenbaum said.

Enzo then ran out the door and into the hallway of the apartment building, where he bit 42-year-old Odette Durogene, who had just dropped off her infant child at a neighboring apartment.

Her nephew, Carl Henry Ganchier, heard Durogene's screams and tackled Enzo, helping restrain him until Neptune City police arrived.

Neptune City Police Director Edward Kirschenbaum called Ganchier a "true hero" for coming out and helping his aunt. He suffered severe bite injuries in the arms, back and legs.

The others were bitten in the arms, according to Licitra, who said their injuries were checked over at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

The Monmouth County SPCA, which provides animal control services for Neptune City, responded along with police and took Enzo to their Eatontown shelter, where he was euthanized. Licitra said no charges have been filed.

The dog will be tested for rabies in Trenton.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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